Labeling and stapling machine.



M. o. cL-Auss.

LABELING AND STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. |915- 1,293,839. Patented FOI). 4, 1919.

' 5 SHEETS-S'IEcTI .AW f @iw 1 m, lImM 1r o @y fam; 3 i T y f M. 0. CLAUSS.

LABELING AND STAPLING MACHINE.

APPucAnoN FILED Dic. la. 19:5.

1,293,339. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIII Hmmm M. 0. cLAus's.

LABELING AND STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DECI I3. I9I5.

Patented Feb. 4, `1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M. 0. CLAUSS.

LABELING AND STAPLING MAcHlNE.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 APPLICATION FILED 9m13.191s. 1,293,339.

q/@ne/ooeo:

M. O. CL-AUSS.

LABELING AND sAPLING MAcmNE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. 19l5.

Patented B31131919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

MAX O. CLAUSS, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

LABELING' AND STAPLING MACHINE.

Specification of 'Letters Patent.

Patenten nena, i919.

Application led December 13, 1915. Serial No. 66,519.

To all whom it may concern.' t

'Be it known that I, MAX O. CLAUss, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, and a resident of New York city, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling and Stapling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n labeling and stapling machines, particularly for placing printed tags on stockings, dress goods, etc. An object is to provide s uch a machine by which the tags may be prmted, cut and placed on the goods to be labeled, the wire for the staple cut and pointed, formed into a staple, passed 'through the goods and the tag and clenched thereon, all during one cycle of operation. Another object 1s to provide in such a machine a staple former, by which the staple may be driven upwardly through the goods and the tag, so that the ends thereof` will engage the tag andbe clenched inwardly thereon, thereby enabling the same to be removed with ease and without tearing the goods, and to provide for the printing of the tags, and the placing of the same upon the goods in a straight and uniform manner. A further object is to pro- `iride such a machine which will automatically stop at the end of each stapling opertion, thereby allowing the operator sufficient time to place another piece of goods to be tagged in the machine. y

With these and other objects in view, my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be hereinafter more fully described ,with reference thereto and iinall pointed out in the claims. p

In thedrawings, Y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

lFig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4.- is a horizontal section enlarged, on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the tag-feeding and printing device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the wire-feeding device;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the staple former with parts broken away; and

Figs. 9. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views thereof showing diierent positions of movement.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, side plates 10 and 11 are provided on a base 12, and a platform 13 is mounted at one side on the top of the plate 11 and at the other side upon a shoulder 13a of the plate 10, the plate 10 extending above the plate 11. Mounted below the platform 13, there is provided a second platform 14, which` will be hereinafter referred to as the wire-feeding platform.

A main driving shaft 15 is journaled in bearings .16 and 17 of the side plates 10 and l1 below the platform 14. A sprocket gear 18'is provided on the said shaft at the side of the plate 10, and is connected by means of a sprocket chain 19 with a. sprocket gea'r 20 provided on the end of a shaft 21 journaled in a bearing 22 at the upper end of the plate 10 and a standard 23 of the platform 13. The gears 18 and 20 are of equal size, so that the shaft 21 will revolve once for everyrevolution of the main driving shaft. A guide slot or groove 13b is provided in the platform 13, in which a cardboard strip is fed from a suitable roll (not shown), and above this groove 13b there is provided on the shaft 21 a Itagor label printing and feeding device, which' comprises a drum 2-1 loosely mounted on the end of the shaft and operatively connected to the said shaft by means of a spring-pressed pawl 25, which is engaged by the single notch 26 of a ratchet 27 of the shaft, so that the drum is caused to rotate with the said shaft, but, if desired, may be manuall moved forwardly independently thereo to determine the correctness of the label. A plurality of transverse dovetail grooves 28 are provided in the periphery of the drum 24, into which are placed type 29, indicating size, style, or other such information to be stamped on the tags, and these type are held in place at one side by a fixed plate 30, and at the other side by arotatable plate 31 loosely mounted on an annular shoulder 32 of the drum. A pair of diametrically opposite pins 33 are provided on the said shoulder, which engage correspondingly arranged openings 34 of a cup-shaped member 35 having the milled rim portion 36. This cup-shaped member serves 'to hold the plate 31 in position on the drum and also for turning the drum. A

, cup-shaped member 35, yby means of projections and 41 provided on the outer surface thereof, and which are engaged by the ends of the enlarged annular portion 42 of the handle 39, so that the movement of the said member will only be sui'licient to bring the cut-out portion properly into and out of register. A rectangular-ly-shaped friction or gripping surface is provided on the drum 24 surrounding the type, and comprises toothed circumferential portions 43 and 44 on the plates 30 and 31 respectively at the sides of the type, and toothed transversely disposed portions 45 and 46 on the periphery of the drum, above and below the type. This rectangular portion is of a size corresponding to the finished label. Coperating with the rotating drum, there is provided beneath the platform 13 a roller 47, the surface of which projects slightly within the groove 13". A suitable inking device (not shown) is provided for inking the type preparatory to the printing operation. It will be seen that as the drum is rotated by the shaft 2l the gripping portion will come into contact with the cardboard strip, which will be simultaneously printed and fed forwardva distance corresponding to one label. When the friction feeding and printing portions of the drum are out of contact with the cardboard strip, a cutting device is brought into operation, as will be hereinafter described, to Sever a single label from the strip.

At the side of the plate 11, there is provided a gear 48, carried by the main driving shaft 15, which meshes with a gear 49 on the end of a shaft 50 journaled in bearings 51 and 52 of the plates 10 and 11 below the wire-feeding platform 14. The gear 49 is of an equal size with the gear 48, so that the shaft 50 will rotate once for every revolution of the main driving shaft. A wire-feeding disk 53 is provided on the said shaft 50, and extends upwardly through a cut-out portion 54' of the platform 14, where it engages beneath the stapling wire 55, which is lfed through a wire guide from a spool of wire (not shown). The Wire guide comprises a slotted block 56 secured to the platform 13 by means of screws 57 and 58. A

- plate 56a is secured to the block 56 by means of the screw` 58, and a flange 56b of the said plate engages in the slot thereof to hold the wire therein. A cut-out portion 59 is provided in the guide member, which overhangs the cut-out portion 54 of the platform 13, and is directly above the wire-feeding disk, so that a portion of the stapling wire is engaged by a milled peripheral portion 53a of the said disk to carry the wire forward. The said milled portion is of such length as to feed forwardly the proper length of wire for a single staple, and when so fed a cutting device hereinafter described is brought into operation to cut off the wire for the staple. A spring-controlled tension roller 60 engages the upper side of the wire through the cut-out portion 59 of the guide, holding tlf,- wire in proper engagement with the feedin disk for carrying the wire forwardly. lhis tension roller is mounted on an arm 61 of a shaft 62, which is journaled in the plate 11 and extends through the same to the outer side thereof, and arranged on the said shaft there is provided a spring 63, which engages over the arm 61 for holding the roller into engagement with the wire. There is secured on the outer end of the shaft 62 by means of screw 64 a lever 65, which extends across the plate 11, and is provided at its end with an enlarged inwardly bent portion 66, which embraces the end of the said plate, and extends above the platform 14.

An elongated screw 67 is provided in the enlarged portion 65, the end of which rests upon the platform 14 and supports the lever raised therefrom. It will be seen that by adjustment of this screw the tension of the roller 60 on the Wire may be varied as desired, and by lifting the lever the roller may be lifted from engagement with the wire guide to permit insertion of the wire therethrough.

A cam disk 68 is secured to the end of the shaft 15 at the side of the plate 10 by means of screws 69, and is provided with a cam groove 70, in which is guided an antifriction roller 71, carried by an arm 72 provided on the outer end of a shaft 73. The shaft 73 is j ournaled in a bearing 74 of the standard 75 provided centrally of the plates 10 and 11 and a bearing 76 of the plate 10. The direction of the cam track is such that the arm 72 is given a gradually descending, a short stationary, and a. quick rising motion during the greatest part of its rotation, and a comparatively short intermediate stationary period at the end of the quick rising motion. This stationary period occurs simultaneously with the feedingaction of thellabel strip 1 feeding device.

A jointed lever 77 is provided on the shaft 73, extending forwardly at the inner side of the plate 10, and is connected at its forward end by means of a link 78 with a perpendicularly disposed rod 79 extending upwardlyv through the platform 13 and 14, and proneeeae vided at the upper end thereof with a head 80, so that the same relative movement is given to this rod as to the arm 7 2 by the cam v68. A tag-cutting knife 81 is pivoted at 82 to the forward edge of the plate 13 and eX- tends across the tag-guiding groove 23, a steel plate 83 being provided below the said groove to cooperate with the cutting edge of the knife in cutting the tags. This knife is in the form of an elbow lever, being provided with an upwardly extending arm 84 having an angular slot 85 therein, which is engaged by a roller 86 provided on the head of the rod 79. 1n operation the action of the knife is as follows During the feeding forward of the tags in the groove 13b, and at which time as before stated the rod 7 9 is stationary, the roller 86 engages the uppermost point of the slot and holds the knife raised above the tags. When the tag is fed forwardly' the proper distance, the rod 79 descends and by reason of the'inelined relation of the upper portion of 'the angular slot 85 thereto, the arm 84 -moves inwardly and the knife descends across the steel plate 83 and severs the tag. As the said. arm moves inwardly and the rod 79 descends, the lower portion of the slot comes into vertical. alinement with the said rod, so 'that during the remaining descending motion the knife remains stationary'. During the rising motion of the rod 79, the action is reverse, the knife remaining stationary, while the roller engages the lower portion of the slot, and rising to its original position in the upper portion, is engaged by .the roller. In order to manually operate the knife in the event that the labels are turned forwardly by hand, the cam disk is `provided with a cutout portion 68a (Fig. 3), the arm 72 being continually held in env gagement with the cam track by means of a .spring 7 2a secured between a rearwardly extending arm 72b. of the arm 72, and the base. A handle 73"i is provided on the shaft 7 3 of the arm 7 2 and upon being depressed moves the said arm downwardly through the cut out portion G8"1L therebycausing the rod 79 to be moved downwardly and the knife to operate. y

` An arm 87 isprovided at one side of the head 80, and extends forwardly therefrom in front of the lab'ehfeeding device, and is provided on its end with a downwardly eX- tending plate 88, which isdisposed immediately vabove the staple former 89 hereinafter more fully described. A shaft 90 extends at each side of the plate 88 at the forward porl.16,0' tion thereof and pivoted to the ends thereof isprovided la tag or label-holding yoke 91, which is supported in raised position of the ,farm 87 by means of alug 92 at the forward portion 93 thereof, which rests on a pin 94 ofthey plate 88, and is limited in its upward movement by vmeans of a notch 95 in the said plate. The sides of the yoke member are of gradually increasing width toward their forward end, and extendslightly below the label-guiding groove 13b of the platform 13, and the lower edges thereof are provided with inwardly extending flanges '96, so that as the tagor label strip is fed forwardly, it is guided into the yoke member, and when the tag is severed by the knife 81, it is supported by the flanges 96, above the goods being tagged, which are placed on the upper end of the staple former 89. A guide rod 97 is provided on Ithe arm 87 at the side of the rod 79, and operates in a hole 98 in the plate 13 to insure the proper alinement and position of the various parts.

By reason of the fact that the goods labeled may be of varying thicknesses, the lever 77, as before stated, isv jointed, to al- ,low a certain amount'of give to the rod 79. The lever 77 is jointed' at 99, each of the members thereof being provided with downwardly projecting `portions 100 andv 101 having contacting faces.- A springpressed elbow lever or latch device 102 is ,pivoted to the portion 100, and the upper arm thereof is provided with a notched or hooked portion 103. which engages a pin 104 of the portion 101,- and holds the two members of the lever rigid with respect to each other. 102 extendsbelow the portions 100 and 101, and is provided with a roller 105, and as the lever 77 descends this roller 105 contacts with. the base 12, and upon further downward movement of thesaid lever, the hooked portion 103 is moved out of engagcment with the pin 104, and the rigidity of the leve-r is broken. A spring 102" is wound about the pin 1023, and bearing at its ends respectively upon a pin 102c of the lever 102, and the portion 77a of the lever- 77, yieldingly forces the leve-r 102 toward the pin 104. The lever 77, however, remains rigid until the knife has entirely cut the paper. The two members thereof are then yieldingly held in position by means of a threaded bolt 10G extending through the portions 100 and 101 and provided with a spring l107 held thereon by means of a lwinged nut 108, by which the tension of the said spring may be regulated as desired. It will be seen that with this construction, a variation in the thickness of the goods b e- 'ing tagged will have no effect on the operation of the machine.

`A wire-cutting lever 109 is pivoted at 110 to the platform 14, and a downwardly extending pin 111 carried thereby engages a cam groove 112 provided iu the Vperiphery of a cam wheel 113 mounted on the shaft 50. The said cam wheel extends'upwardly through a cut-out portion 114 of the said platform. Oscillating motion is imparted to the said lever bythe cam. i-kvwire-cut-v The lower arm of the leveries tending transversely of the same, in aline-v ment with the wire guide and feeding device. A supporting roller 117 is mounted on a lug 118 of the staple former beneath the member 115, and a smaller roller 119 is mounted on a lug 120 above the said member, for guiding the said member into the slot. A pair of angular spring members 121 and 122 are secured at the side of the former by means of a screw 123 passing therethrough and into the slot 116, a cutout portion 124 beingprovided in the member 115 for clearing the said spring members. The ends of the said members are slightly flared outwardly at their ends or beveled as at 125 and 126, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, so that as the wire is fed through a passage 127 in the guide block 128 across the slot, the end thereof is grippe-d between the said members, and held in position for the cutting operation. The cutting edge 129 is inclined and the under surface of the said member beneath the cutting edge is beveled as at 130 and coperates with a correspondingly beveled upper surface 131 of the block: 128, so that as the member 115 is moved forwardly into the slot 116 and.

across the beveled surface 131, the wire is cut at an angle and is thereby 'sharply pointed. A spring 132. mounted on a screw 133-of the lever 109, presses against the outer end of the member 115 and holds the same in snug engagement with the bevel guide block 128.

The staple former 89 is provided at the sides with flanges 134 and 135 and centrally with a longitudinal groove 136, of a width substantially equal to the length of the wirestaple before being clenched,

and centrallyy of the groove 136 there is provided a smaller longitudinal groove 137 of a width substantially that of the clenched staple.

To bring about the operation of the staple former, a cam wheel 13S is mounted on the main drive shaft 15 at the side of the plate 11, having a cam groove 139 therein which 'engages a roller 140 carried on the end of an arm 141.I The arm 141 is mounted on the end of a shaft 142 which is journaled in the oscillating movement of the lever 145. A slide block 152 is mounted in the groove 136, being held therein by side plates 153 and 154, and pivotally mounted on a lug 15,5 thereon is a finger lever 156, provided at its upper end with squared forwardly projecting portions 157 which engage within a correspondingly squared cut-out portion 158 of the slide block. The width of the said squared projection is slightly less than the width of the groove 137, and the depth is sufficient to permit the same to engage lthe bot-tom of the said groove. At the lower end of the lever 156 there is provided a slot 159 having an inwardly extending recessed or cut-out portion 159a at the lower end thereof which is engaged by a pin 160 of a forwardly projecting member 161 provided at. the upper end of the shaft 149, and which extends through an elongated slot 162 in the slide block 152. A follower 163 is disposed in the groove 137 and is provided near its lower end with a longitudinal slot 164 through which the member 161 extends, the slot being slightly longer than the thickness of the said member.

An adjustable stop 165 is provided in the groove 137 below the follower 163 to limit the downward movement thereof, the slot 164 permitting a further downward movement of the member 161 carried by the shaft 149, after the downward movement of the follower is stopped. A spring 166 is disposed between the .member 161 and the lower end of the follower to cause the same to resume its normal position upon upward movement of the part-s. A downwardly projecting member 167 is secured to the lower end of the slide block 152 and is provided at its upper end with a flange or shoulder 168 which engages beneath a cross bar 169, and disposed between the said cross bar and the lower end of the member 167 there is provided a compression spring 170, the upper end of which is straight as at 171 to permit the downward movement of the flange or shoulder 168.

The cam groove 139 is so shaped as to impart to the shaft 149 a slow downward movement at the beginning of its descent, a relatively long period of rest, a slow movement for the remainder of the descent and a relatively quick upward movement during the wholel of its period of ascent. The cam groove 112 which operates the wire cutting member is so shaped as to cause the cutter to move vforward during thelatterlpart of t-he'period of rest of the shaft 149, the wire being fed forwardly during the beginning of the period of rest, to remain in said moved forward position during the downward movement of the shaft after the period of rest, to move outwardly during the upward movement of the said shaft, and to re- 1,2ee,ese

mainl Istationary` in `the moved outward position during the downward movement of the shaftbefore the period of rest.

Assuming that the cloth is laid above the former, and the machine is in the position indicated in Fig. l, in which the shaft 14-9 is at the beginning of its period of rest,l

the wire is fed forwardly across the slot 116 of the staple former 89 and the outer end thereof is gripped between the spring members 121 and 122. The cutting member then moves forwardly severing the length of wire for the staple, and continues its forward movement, pushing the severed length of wire forwardly so that the same rests between inclined block 128 and the gripping members 121 and 122, immediately above the shelf formed at each side of the groove 137, the central portion of the wire being now above the groove 137, and the forward movement of the cutting member being arrested as the forward or pushing face thereof comes into alinement with the bottom of the groove. The upper end of the follower 163 is now in alinement with the slot 116, being slightly spaced below the wire and the squared portion 157 of the lever 156 is immediately above the wire, the forward face thereof resting against the bottom of'the groove 137, the slide block 152 carrying the lever 156 being normally held in raised position by the spring 170, all as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

vrl`he shaft 149 now begins its downward movement, the cutting member 115 remaining forward. Both the lever 156 and the follower 165i move downwardly with the shaft 119, the wire being carried downwardly in the groove 137 by means of the squared portion 157. The ends thereof, coming into contact with the corners 172 and 173 at the upper portion of the groove 137 adjacent the slot 116, are caused to turn upwardly. the arcuate recesses 174e and 175 at each side of the groove 137 above the slot 116 permitting this movement. As this downward movement is continued, the lower end of the follower `163 contacts with the stop 165, and the movement thereof is stopped. the slot 161- therein permitting a slightl v further downward movement of the shaft 119, the lever 156 and the staple. 1n this way, the upper end of the follower is brought with considerable force against the intermediate portion of the staple causing the saine to become straightened against the lower edge of the squared portion 157. T he upward movement of the shaft 119 now begins., the follower immediately resuming its normal position by reason of the spring 166. As the upper end of the slide block reaches the top of the former, the flange 168 of the member 167 contacts with the cross bar 169 and prevents further movement of the said slide block, the elongated slot 162 therein, however, permitting a further upward movement of the projection 161 of the shaft 1-l9 and the follower 163 carried thereby. During this further upward movement, the pin 160 of the member 161, which engages the slot 159, of the lever 156, causes the upper portion thereof to move outwardly, dise-ngaging the squared projection 157 from the slot 137 and the stapleformed therein. The follower continues upwardly pushing the released staple out. of the former through the goods and the tag, which are disposed on the upper end of the former, where the ends of the sta-ple engage a recess 176 of an anvil member 177 secured to the plate 88, and are clenched upon the label, as indicated in Fig. 8. As this last operation takes place, the cutting member starts its movement rearwardly, and as the operation is completed, the shaft 1-19 moves downwardly, moving the follower away from the face of the squared projection 157 and the lever 156 back to its normal position, the downward movement being arrested as the parts assume the position indicated in Fig. 9, the cutting member by this time having reached its limit 'of rearward movement, the machine now being again in position for the next stapling operation.

1t will be seen that with the Construction above described, a single tagging and stapling operation is carried out for each revolution of the main drive shaft 15.

As it is desirable and essential to the proper operation of the machine that the same be accurately stopped at the end of each stapling operation, so that the operator will have Sufficient time to place another article in the machine to be tagged,- I have provided a gear wheel 178 (see Fig. 1), which meshes with and is driven by a worm 179 provided on a shaft 180. A clutch disk 181 is slidably mounted on the end of the shaft, which, during operation of the machine, is held by means of the spring-'182 into engagement with the continuously rotating drive wheel 183, the said drive wheel being provided with a friction surface '184; for insuring the proper contactl between the disk 181 and the wheel 183. A peripherally grooved portion 185A is provided on the clutch disk 181, which is engaged by a pin 186 on the end of a pivoted lever 187, the said lever 187 being connected by means of a link 188 with a pivoted member 189. A spring pressed pawl 190 is mounted on the side of the cam wheel or other suitable rotating struct-ure carried by the shaft 15, the said pawl being normally held by a pin 191 so that the end thereof. which is provided with a roller 192, is held beyond the periphery of the said cam wheel, so that during the revolution thereof, the roller engages the upper end of the pivotcd. member 189, thereby moving the clutch disk by means of the link 188 and pivoted lever 187 away from the drive shaft, causing the machine to stop. In starting'the machine, a plunger 193 having a cap 194 is provided at the side of the machine and normally held in raised position by means of a spring 195, and is con-v nected to and operates a lever 1,96 pivotally mounted upon a standard 197. The outer end of the lever extends downwardly as at 198, and pivoted thereto is an upwardly extending memlber 199 which is held against a pin 200 by a spring 201. The upper end of the mem'ber 199 is disposed beneath the roller 192, so that upon pressure being exerted on the plunger 193 by the operator, the pawl 190 is lifted from engage ment with the pivoted member 189 and the clutch disk, by reason of the spring 182, engages the driving wheel 183 and the operation of the machine'begins. Upon the completion of one revolution of the shaft 15,-l it will ybe seen that the pawl engages the. piv* oted member 189 and disengagesthe clutch from the driving wheel, thereby stopping the machine. Should,l for any reason, the operator continue to press the plunger, the pawl will then engage the side of the pivoted member L99 and will move the same unt-il contact is made with the member 189, so that there is no possibility of the machine not stopping at the end of a single stapling operation.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory form of my invention, vbut it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and Scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

1. In a device of the character described, a printing and feeding member comprising a drum adapted to be rotated once for each stapling'operation, and means on the said drum adapted to engage a strip of paper to feed the same forwardly, printing means on the said drum within the said feeding means, and a retaining member loosely mounted on the said drum for retaining the said printing means in position and adapted to permit the removal thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of pijper forwardly'once for every revolution o the said driving shaft, a cam on the said driving shaft, a i'eciprocating rod, a tag-receiving member carried at the up er end of said rod, a cutting member provided with an angular slot adapted to be engaged lby the upper end of said rod to operate the said cutting member during reciprocatioii of the said rod, said angular slot permitting further movement of the said rod after the cut-ting member is otperated, the Said tag-receiving member upon' the further movement of said reciprocating rod adapted to move the tag severed by the said cutting member into stapling position upon the said stapling member.

3. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a stapling member adapted to `be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, .a cam on. the said driving shaft, a reciprocating rod, an arm adapted to -be operated by the said cam to reciprocate the said rod, a tag-receiving member carried at, the upper end of said rod, a cutting member provided with an angular slot adapted to be engaged fby the upper end of said rod to operate the said cutting member during reciprocation of the said rod, said angular slot permitting further movement o-f the said rod aftei' the cutting member is operated, the said tag-receiving member'upon the further movement of said reciprocating rod adapted to move thetag severed by the said cutting memberinto stapling position upon the said stapling member, and a tension device coperating with the said reciprocating rod and adapted to permit a variable further movement thereof after the said tag-receiving member is stopped by engagement with the material to be tagged.

l. In a device of the character described,

a driving shaft, a stapling member adapted to be operated once for every ievoliition of the said driving shaft, a feeding and printing device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cani on the said driving shaft, a reciprocating rod, a jointed arm adapted to be operated by the said cam to reciprocate the said reciprocating rod, alatcli on said jointed arm adapted to maintain the same rigid, the said latch adapted at the end of the downward movement to be disengaged from the said jointed arm, a tag* receiving member at the upper end of said rod provided with a pivoted yoke adapted to receive and retain in lifted position a tag fed forwardly by the said feeding device, a cutting member adapted to be oscillated by the said reciprocating rod to sever the said tag upon the initial downward movement of the said reciprocating rod, said tag receiving member adapted upon the further downward movement of the said reciprocating rod to position the said tag above the stapling member upon the material to be tagged. the disengagement of the latch of tlievsaid jointed arm at the end of the downward movement of the said arm permitting a variable tension on the said reciprocating rod and the said tag-receiviiig member, to allow for variable thickness of the material to be tagged.

ing with the said cam adapted to operate the said stapling member once for every `revolution of the driving shaft, .a gear on the said driving shaft, a label feeding member comprising a drum adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, means on the said drum adapted to engage a strip of paper to feed the same forwardly to the said stapling device, a second cam on the said driving shaft, a cutting member, means cooperating with the said second cam adapted to operate the said cutting member to sever the portion of the said strip fed forwardly to be stapled, a second` gear on the said driving shaft, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, and wire-feeding means on the said shaft adapted to feed a length of wire for wardly to the said stapling member once for every revolution of the said driving shaft.

6. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a cam on said driving shaft, a stapling member, means coperating with the said cam adapted to operate the said stapling member once for every revolution of the driving shaft, a gear on the said driving shaft, a label feeding member comprising a drum adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said drivingT shaft, means en the said drum adapted to engage a strip of paper to feed the same forwardly to the said stapling de'- vice, a second cam on the said driving shaft, a cutting member, means coperating with the said second cam adapted to operate the -said cutting member to sever the portion of the said strip fed forwardly to be stapled, a second gear on the said driving shaft, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, wire-feeding means on the said shaft adapted to feed a length of wire forwardly to the said stapling member once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cam on the said shaft. and a cutting member adapted to be oscillated b v the said cam to sever the said length of wire..

7. lin a device of the character described, a driving shaft. a cam on the said driving shaft, a stapling member. nleans coperating with the said cam adapted to operate the said stapling member once for every revolution of the driving shaft, a gear on the the said driving shaft. a label feeding member comprising a drum adapted to be rotated by the said gear once, for every revolution of the said driving shaft, means on the said drum adapted to engage a strip of paper to feed the same forwardly to the said stapling device, a second cam on they said driving shaft. a cuttingmember. means cooperating with the said second cam adapted to operate the said cutting member to sever the portion of the said strip .fed forwardly to be stapled, a second gear on the said driving shaft, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, wire-feed ing means on the said shaft adapted to feed a length of wire forwardly to lthe said stapling member once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, and an adjustable springactuated roller adapted to bear upon the said wire to hold the same in engagement with the said feeding means.

8. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the'said driving shaft to sever the fed forward portion of the strip of paper, a stapling member, a gear on the said driving shaft, a shaft adapted to be rotated by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a wire-feeding member on the said shaft adapted to feed a length of wire forwardly into the said stapling member, a 1 cam carried by the said last-named shaft, a cutting device adapted to be oscillated by the said cam to sever the said length of wire fed forwardly into the said stapling member, said cutting member adapted upon continued forward movement to move the said severed length of wire into stapling position in the said stapling member.

9. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a label feeding device I vadapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever Athe fed forward 1 portion of the strip of paper, a stapling member provided with a transverse opening therein having at one end an inclined face and a passage extending from the said face to the inner side of the said stapling meml ber, a gear on the said driving shaft, a shaft adapted to be rotated 'by the said gear once for every revolution of the said driving shaft. a wire-feeding member on the said shaft adapted -to feed a length of wire forl wardly through the said passage into the said transverse opening of the stapling member` a cam carried by the said lastnamed shaft. a cutting device adapted to be oscillated by the said cam and provided with l an inclined cutting edge coperating with the inclined end of the said opening to sever the said length of wire and to form a point on the end thereof, said cutting member adapted upon continued forward movement 1 to move the said severed length of wire into stapling position in the said stapling member.

. 10. lua device of the character described,

a driving shaft, a label feeding device 1 adapted to feedv a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the fed forward portion of the Strip of paper, a stapling member, a Wire-feeding member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to feed a length of wire into the said stapling member, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the said length of wire and to move the same forwardly into stapling position, a reciprocating member within the said stapling member adapted to engage the said strip of wire and move the same downwardly in the said stapling member to form a staple having upstanding prongs, and to move the said formed staple upwardly in the said stapling member to be engaged with the material and tag to be stamped, -means for straightening the lower portion of the said staple and means for elenehing the said staple.

11. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the fed forward portion of the strip of paper, a stapling member provided with a longitudinal recessed portion and a transverse opening extending across the said recessed portion, a wire-feeding member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving` shaft to feed a length of wire into the said transverse opening of the stapling member, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the said length of wire and to move the same forwardly into stapling position across the said longitudinal recessed portion, a reciprocating member having a wire-engaging finger disposed above the said length .of wire at the beginning of the stapling operation adapted to engage the said length of wire and draw the same downwardly in the said recessed portion to form a staple therefrom, said staple upon upward movement of the said reciprocating member adapted to be engaged with the material and tag to be stapled, means for straightening the lower portion of the said staple and means for clenching the said staple.

12. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft. a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for very revolution of the said driving shaft. a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said -driv- L ing shaft to sever the fed forward portion of the strip of paper, a stapling member provided with a longitudinal recessed portion and a transverse opening extending across the said recessed portion, a wire-feeding member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to feed a length of wire into the Said transverse opening of the stapling member, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the said length of wire and to move the same forwardly into stapling position across the said longitudinal recessed portion, a reciprocating member in said stapling member adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft and provided with a lever having an inclined slot at one end thereof and a finger at the other end thereof adapted upon the beginning of the stapling operation to engage the said longitudinal recessed portion above the severed length of wire on downward movement of the said reciprocating member and to draw the said severed length of wire downwardly in the said longitudinal re cessed portion to form the same into the staple, and upon upward movement to carry the said staple upwardly in the said longitudinal recessed portion, means engaging the said inclined slot of the said lever adapted to release the said finger from the said staple, and a follower adapted to move the said staple into the material and tag to be stapled, means for straightening the lower portion of the said staple and means for elenching the said staple.

13. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a label feeding device adapted to feed a strip of paper forwardly once for every revolution of the said driving shaft, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the fed forward portion of the strip of paper, a stapling member, provided with a longitudinal recessed portion, a transverse opening extending across said longitudinal recessed portion, and a longitudinal slot in said longitudinal recessed portion. a wire-feeding member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to fced a length of wire into the said transverse opening of the stapling member, a cutting member adapted to be operated once for every revolution of the said driving shaft to sever the length of wire and to move the same forwardly into stapling psition across the said longitudinal recessedv portion, a reciprocating member within the said stapling member provided with a longitudinal slot therein, a reciprocating shaft provided with means extending through the said longitudinal slot of the said stapling member and the longitudinal slot of the -for every revolution said reciprocating member, means adapted to be 'driven by the said driving shaft to reciprocate the said reciprocating shaft, a follower within the said longitudinal recessed portion of the said stapling member provided with a longitudinal slot engaging the said means on the said reciprocating shaft, said slot being of substantially less length than the said slot of the reciprocating member, said reciprocating member adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly once of the said driving shaft, a lever on the said reciprocating member rovidedwith an inclined slot, means on tie said lirst-named means of the said reciprocating shaft engaging the said inclined slot, a staple-forming linger on the other end of the said lever adapted to be engaged at the beginning of the stapling operation within the said longitudinal recessed ortion, and upon downward movement o? the said reciprocating member engaging the said length of wire and moving the same downwardly within the said longitudinal recessed portion to form the same into a staple, the upper end of the said follower during the initial downward movement of the said reciprocating member bevstaple, a barrier within nal recessed ing spaced from the lower portion of the the said longitudiportion alapted to engage the said follower upon continued downward movement o' the same, the said reciprocating member continuing its downward movement after the stopping of the said :follower to straighten the lower portion of the staple against the said follower', said linger adapted upon the return of the said reciprocating member to upward position to be disengaged from the said staple by the continued upward movement of the said reciprocating shaft, the longitudinal slot of the said reciprocating member permitting the continued upward movement of the said follower after the stopping of the said reciproeating member, said follower adapted to move the staple into the material and tag to be stapled, and means for clenching the said staple.

In testimony that I claim the 'foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX O. CLAUSS.

Witnesses:

D. LEWIS MATrEnN, JOHN SCHWARZ. 

